Mary I: Queen Of Sorrows (The Tudor Rose Trilogy Book Three) by Alison Weir

 

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows (The Tudor Rose Trilogy Book Three) by Alison Weir.

Published 9th May 2024 by Headline.

From the cover of the book:

A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.

Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father's court. But the King wants a son and heir.

With her parents' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary's perfect world begins to fall apart. Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.

The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?

MARY I. HER STORY.

Alison Weir's new Tudor novel is the tale, full of drama and tragedy, of how a princess with such promise, loved by all who knew her, became the infamous Bloody Mary.

***********

In the third book of Alison Weir's excellent Tudor Rose trilogy, she turns her attention to Mary I, a figure well known for a grisly reign - hence the familiar nickname 'Bloody Mary'. But who was she really? Based on Weir's typical in depth research, she approaches this book with the intention of examining whether Mary I really deserves the reputation associated with her, and the resulting mix of fact and fiction is an absorbing read.

Weir brings Mary alive in these pages, making her as human as she possibly can, beginning with her childhood and painting her as the adored child of devoted parents. This is a Mary who was studious; loved to dance and play music; revelled in the attention of her charismatic father; and was secure in her fate as a future Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, who would unite England and Spain under a devout Catholic banner. It is easy to feel sympathy for her when what followed shattered all her illusions - the trauma of her parent's broken marriage; the distress of her father's alienation from what she was brought up to consider the 'one true faith'; the way she was supplanted in his affections by a step-mother she despised; and the loss of her birth rite.  

As the years pass, Weir continues to show great empathy towards Mary's situation, and brings out her softer side through her relationships with the kinder of Henry's later wives, the love she developed for both Elizabeth and baby brother Edward, and her yearning for an affectionate husband and motherhood. It was fascinating to read about her closeness with Anna of Cleves and Henry's surviving wife Katheryn Parr, which I did not know about previously. The Mary portrayed here had every right to feel indignant about the way she was treated - alternately brought into the royal fold and cast our again, especially when the brother she once loved ascended to the throne. Her life shrinks during Edward VI's reign like never before, and in many ways, these are the years that shape her womanhood the most. Feeling betrayed, denied the right to marry a husband she considered a suitable match, and constantly under pressure to convert to the new protestant Church of England, she begins to see herself as a martyr. 

Finally Mary achieves her place as England's first Queen regnant, an honour which can never be taken away from her. There are positive aspects to her reign, which Weir touches upon, and at times, she was the darling of her subjects, but however hard our esteemed author tries, it is difficult to like the woman Mary becomes in her later years, and therin lies the rub. No matter how much you appreciate the turns of the wheel of power that unsettled her, the unfairness heaped upon her, and the beliefs instilled within her, she develops into a person ruled by religious fanatism, hypocrisy, suspicion, bitterness, and foolish decisions. Perhaps she might not deserve the 'bloody' epithet forever tied to her name in terms of actual numbers of people killed, but the political and territorial fallout that resulted from her marriage is undeniable; and her callous, single-minded persecution of 'heretics' (who had, after all, been required to embrace protestant beliefs) leaves a bad taste in the mouth, especially given her refusal to abandon her own faith. It is interesting to read, in Weir's excellent Author's Note that she ultimately feels the same way about Mary having revisited her story. Mary I: Queen of Sorrows indeed, and they were not all her own...

It is always a joy to immerse myself in an Alison Weir book, and this one is no exception. At over five hundred pages, this engaging novel simply flew by, and it provides rich fodder for a number of thought provoking subjects that beg to be discussed - making it the perfect book for a reading group setting. I cannot wait to see who Weir turns her attention to next!

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows is available to by now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Alison Weir is a bestselling historical novelist of Tudor fiction, and the leading female historian in the United Kingdom. She has published more than thirty books, including many leading works of non-fiction, and has sold over three million copies worldwide.

Her novels include the Tudor Rose trilogy, which spans three generations of history's most iconic family - the Tudors, and the highly acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII, all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers.

Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Olajide

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Ọlájídé.

Published 31st May 2024 by Bookoutre.

From the cover of the book:

My heart races as gunfire startles me from my sleep, and my lungs fill with smoke as I realise my village is being burned to the ground. I tremble as I discover my family is missing, but before I can find them, I am taken. With tears streaming down my face, I wonder if I’ll ever see my parents and little brother again…

Western Africa, 1848. In a small Yorùbá village, fourteen-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi refuses to live by the elders’ rules. All she wants is to learn how to hunt and defend herself, like the boys. But her father is quick to remind her that soon she’ll be expected to grow up and marry.

But Ṣìkẹ́mi’s world shatters when her village is ambushed by slave raiders. She watches in horror as she’s separated from her family before she is sold to Madam Tinúbú, a rich and powerful slave trader. With her heart in pieces, Ṣìkẹ́mi’s days are filled with back-breaking labour and constant fear of brutal punishment.

Desperate, Ṣìkẹ́mi looks for a way to escape her nightmare and find her family. When someone tries to poison Madam, she sees a chance to save her mistress’s life. As a reward, Madam grants Ṣìkẹ́mi’s request to train as a warrior and join her guard. Madam sees something in Ṣìkẹ́mi that she could use, and something she desperately needs to keep her power…

But Ṣìkẹ́mi has a plan of her own. Even if everything is taken away from her, her spirit will never be broken. And nothing will stop her from being reunited with her family. Not even Madam.

Inspired by true events, The Stolen Daughter is a gripping and unputdownable story about facing your fears, overcoming unimaginable hardship, and the courage and strength of women in a world ruled by men. Fans of Marie Benedict, Sadeqa Johnson and Suzette D. Harrison will be swept away.

***********

1848, The Yoruba Kingdom, West Africa. Fourteen-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi longs for the freedom enjoyed by the boys of her village. All she wants to do is be like them, and her defiant behaviour is always getting her into trouble. She cannot understand why her lot should be one of marriage and motherhood, when she is just as good at hunting and bushcraft as they are.

When the peace of the village is shattered by the arrival of slave raiders, Ṣìkẹ́mi's frustrations are thrown into sharp relief. Torn away from her family and traded as a slave, she is bought by Madam Tinúbú, a rich and powerful woman at the heart of the West African slave trade. Ṣìkẹ́mi's only concern now is to stay alive.

By chance, Ṣìkẹ́mi comes to Madam's attention after saving her from an attempt on her life. As a result, her capricious owner spots an opportunity to use her for her own ends. Ṣìkẹ́mi is given the chance to train as the warrior she has always longed to be... and she begins to lay plans to find her way back to her parents and younger brother.

I loved Florence Ọlájídé's fascinating memoir, Coconut, about how her life has been shaped to give her a foothold in two cultures - Britain and Nigeria. So when I heard she had written her first novel, The Stolen Daughter, I could not wait to read it.

The Stolen Daughter is the epic story of Ṣìkẹ́mi, a young girl snatched from her family and forced into slavery in nineteenth century West Africa. Ṣìkẹ́mi is a bold and courageous character, and Ọlájídé uses her struggles beautifully to fashion a tale that totally immerses you in the life of a young woman swept along on a tide that she cannot control. Ṣìkẹ́mi refuses to be cowed, and her intelligence, intuition, and sheer force of will are powerful weapons in the long game she must play. At times she does get lost in the manipulative schemes of others, which allows the story to take lovely twists and turns, especially when it comes to friendship, the possibility of love, and the things she is prepared to do to win her freedom. I adored her, taking her completely into my heart, which tied me completely to every one of the triumphs and tragedies that mark her journey.

Through Ṣìkẹ́mi's story, Ọlájídé touches on so many aspects of the history of this region, primarily around the slave trade and the relationships between the divided ethnic groups of the Yoruba Kingdom and the 'white man'. Rather than follow the well worn path of a slave taken across the ocean to toil for the British empire, or in the Americas, Ọlájídé turns her eyes to the workings of the slave trade within Africa itself, which makes this an eye-opening read. 

Ọlájídé delves into the mechanics of slave raids; the vicious infighting between tribes; and the enormous wealth garnered from the slave trade that fed the political ambitions of families in power. It is horribly fascinating to read about, and she does not shy away from addressing the complicity of the West Africans who exploited their own people for personal gain, nor the excruciating complexities of the relationships between them and Britain that led to the eventual formation of Nigeria. 

There is an intriguing thread to the novel which explores the role of women in Yoruba culture, which I found really thought provoking. There are many powerful female characters in the story, some of whom are intimately involved in supporting the political machinations of their families as financial backers through the slave trade. And yet, they are never allowed to exceed their 'place' in the patriarchal structure they inhabit. This is strictly a man's world, and the women are never allowed to forget this, often through violent means. Much to ponder upon there... 

And speaking of pondering, I highly recommend a read of Ọlájídé's poignant reflections on the legacy of the slave trade today, particularly the stigma that still abounds in Nigeria in respect of families who were touched by its reach. 

The Stolen Daughter is an impressive fiction debut. It is a fine example of my absolute favourite kind of historical novel - one which totally consumes you with a well-written story, teaches you about uncomfortable history, and makes you take a good hard look at the lessons the past can teach us. 

The Stolen Daughter is available to buy now in ebook and paperback formats. Buy link: Amazon UK

Thank you to Bookoutre for providing me with an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

About the author:

Florence is an educator and her passion is improving children’s lives. She caught the teaching bug at thirteen when she organised the neighbourhood kids into evening classes so they could support each other with homework. 

Three years later, just shy of her sixteenth birthday, she entered the University of Lagos, Nigeria to begin her teacher training. In 1981, she graduated from the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a Nigerian Certificate in Education. 

She was a headteacher of a London inner city primary school. She is the co-founder of Inspired Futures and has a passion for seeing children achieve the best they can and ensuring that schools provide them with a first-class education. 

Florence was shortlisted to attend Penguin Random House’s WriteNow London workshop in 2018. She is the author of the memoir Coconut.

 

A Summer Wedding At The Cornish Manor (Escape To Cornwall Book Three) by Linn B. Halton

 

A Summer Wedding at the Cornish Manor (Escape To Cornwall Book Three) by Linn B. Halton.

Published 9th May 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

This summer, save the date for Renweneth Farm's very first wedding!

As the seasons change, so do the lives of those who call the farm home. Bustling with activity in anticipation of a busy Spring, it's all go with Jess and Riley's wedding on the horizon and Renweneth Manor's restoration in full swing.

But while the farm business flourishes, Jess and Ivy need to learn to navigate unforeseen challenges - financial worries, two disgruntled locals, and even a blast from Riley's past. In the midst of it all can Ivy juggle a new and unexpected arrival with her booming business, and can Jess keep track of her perfect day?

Join Jess and the team at Renweneth Farm as they struggle to make the pieces of the intricate puzzle that bonds them together, fall neatly into place.

***********

The seasons are flying by and the little community at Renweneth Farm is growing. With The Courtyard Hub now a hive of activity and the bakery doing well, its time for Jess to move onto the next phase - restoring Renweneth Manor, and a big task lies ahead if it is going to be anywhere near ready to become the family home she and Riley hope it will be. With building works underway, and a wedding to plan, there is more than enough to keep everyone busy, so when fate decides to throw in an extra few curve balls, Jess begins to wonder if she can stay on top of everything and get the happy-ever-after she deserves.

For the final lovely instalment in the Escape to Cornwall series, Linn B. Halton takes us back to the bustling community at Renweneth Farm, where, thanks to Jess' vision, local businesses are thriving - and her own love life has taken an unexpected upturn in the shape of man-of-her-dreams, builder Riley.

Wedding bells are now in the air for the couple, but the path to the altar is about to be strewn with more than a few bumps. Business problems, clashing personalities (Prudie I am looking at you), housing issues, and growing numbers in the local community are causing all sort of headaches, and that is before we even get started on the nitty gritty of wedding arrangements, closure from previous relationships, and breaches to be healed in families, before the nuptials roll around. 

As always, Halton packs this story with a wonderful community of characters, and balances her storylines about family, friendship and forgiveness with lots of engaging detail about house renovations and the ups and downs of running a small business. This is something I really enjoy about her stories, as it gives you a lot to think about at the same time as having your heartstrings plucked - and plucked they will be on the way to the warm and fuzzy ending.

Full of love, laughter and life, this book will make you yearn to live in beautiful Cornwall at Renweneth Farm too. It is a perfect book to snuggle up on the sofa with, and ignore the unseasonable rain outside!

A Summer Wedding at the Cornish Manor is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

From interior designer to author, when Linn B. Halton's not writing, or spending time with the family, she's either upcycling furniture or working in the garden. Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK's Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. 

Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her 'rock', Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she's an eternal romantic. Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors. Linn writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.

The Maiden by Kate Foster

 

The Maiden by Kate Foster.

Published in paperback 29th February 2024 by Mantle.

From the cover of the book:

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2024
Shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger 2024
Winner of the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2023

Inspired by a real-life case, Kate Foster's The Maiden is a remarkable story with a feminist revisionist twist, giving a voice to women otherwise silenced by history.

In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me.

Edinburgh, October 1679. Lady Christian is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, James Forrester. News of her imprisonment and subsequent trial is splashed across the broadsides, with headlines that leave little room for doubt: Adulteress. Whore. Murderess.

Only a year before, Lady Christian was newly married, leading a life of privilege and respectability. So, what led her to risk everything for an affair? And does that make her guilty of murder? She wasn't the only woman in Forrester's life, and certainly not the only one who might have had cause to wish him dead . . .

***********

October 1679. In a storm of scandal, Lady Christian Nimmo, wife of a prosperous Edinburgh textile merchant is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, Lord James Forrester. Branded an adulteress, murderess, and whore, how did this apparently respectable woman find herself under sentence of death for killing her womanising, wealthy uncle.

Inspired by this fascinating, real life case, Kate Foster reimagines what might have led Lady Christian to throw off strict societal bonds to become involved with a man linked to her own family, and to become embroiled in the mystery of his murder within the grounds of his grand family seat, Corstorphine Castle. The story covers the period between October 1678 and November 1679, and unfurls through the narratives of Lady Christian and a character called Violet, a prostitute from one of Edinburgh's brothels - with flashbacks to Christian's childhood, and fascinating snippets of articles from the Caledonia Broadside newspaper reporting on the trial.

Foster weaves the stories of these two women together to create a compelling, page-turner of a novel about power, passion, and female rage, set against the vivid backdrop of 17th century Edinburgh. With jaw-dropping skill, she plays off Christian (the entitled wealthy woman trapped in a loveless marriage and tempted into an ill-judged affair with her manipulative uncle), and Violet (the latest in a long line of Forrester's mistresses installed in the castle's turret) against each other in a contest that it takes them a while to learn the rules of. 

Christian and Violet carry the story in equal measure, and Foster writes them many glorious shades of grey, comparing and contrasting their life experiences and motivations, and delving into the fateful consequences of their decisions. The shocking history of Forrester's scheming plans is gradually revealed, while Christian's trial plays out in the present, and Foster keeps the suspense going nicely about her version of the hows, whys and wherefores of what led up to events on the day the despicable man died, and what the eventual outcome of the trial will be. There is also a delicious little twist that binds the women together, I really did not see coming. 

Within this beautifully written novel, Foster explores a whole host of intriguing themes about money, social position, secrets, false narratives, complicity, and the choices women are forced to make in order to survive. She examines female desire and knowledge about sex in terms of class and gender in a most thought provoking way too. And I loved how she injects so much meaning into her title, The Maiden, making it about so much more than the looming instrument of execution that appears on the book's cover.

This is an impressive debut, well worthy of its place amongst the titles longlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction, and an absolute must read if you enjoy novels that explore the hidden stories of women in history. I cannot wait to get started on her second novel, The King's Witches (publishing on 6th June)!

The Maiden is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. The Maiden won the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect 2020 prize for new writers. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

Escape To The Tuscan Vineyard (Holiday Romance Book Two) by Carrie Walker

 

Escape to The Tuscan Vineyard (Holiday Romance Book Two) by Carrie Walker.

Published 23rd May 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

Pack your bags and uncork the laughter in this delightful romantic escapade!

After getting her heart broken in her early twenties, Abi Mason vowed to live by a simple (but non-negotiable) rule: no second dates. Who needs a boyfriend, or anything else for that matter, when you have a career to think about?

But life has other plans: with some unexpected time on her hands, Abi finds herself on holiday in Tuscany. Among sun-dappled vineyards and olive groves, Abi meets dashing American Tony, and it seems the universe is conspiring to force her out of her comfort zone...

If Abi can break her own rules, could this unexpected Italian fling lead her to a happiness she never dared to dream of?

Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk, this effervescent tale will whisk you away on a hilarious and heartwarming adventure you won't want to end!

***********

Make-up artist Abi was only in her twenties when her happily ever after went awry. She is unwilling to let herself fall for another man, so sticks rigidly to her no-second-dates rule. A bit of fun... a one-night stand... that is all she needs. Who needs a boyfriend anyway, when she has ambitious career plans? 

But when her big break working behind the scenes of a big movie falls through, she decides it might be time for a holiday away from her busy routine, and it just so happens that her friend Holly has been begging her to come for a visit in intoxicating Italy. 

A holiday on a Tuscan vineyard is everything Abi was looking for - sunshine, scenery, and delicious food. She even hits it off with a handsome Italian-American stranger right away, throwing in some welcome spice too. What she does not expect is that Tony turns out to be the man who might just persuade her to break her rigid dating rules. Is it time to open her heart to love once more...?

Carrie Walker carries you off to beautiful Tuscany for a rom-com escape filled with Italian delights! As Abi allows herself to relax and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of her adventure, Walker brings Italy alive with wonderful descriptions of landscape, culture, food and drink that will have you longing for a holiday on the hillside in San Gimignano.

But the real beauty of the story lies in the characters. Abi makes a great protagonist, and Walker writes nicely about the personal and professional sides of her life. There are really engaging storylines of romantic suspense with man-of-mystery Tony; a puzzle to be worked out around shenanigans on Abi's work front; compelling dramas at the vineyard, that can only be solved by a pulling together of the local community members who become Abi's friends; a fabulous 'revenge' twist in glamorous surroundings that will have you chuckling; and a full on, heart warming finale. Perfect!

It is a joy to be at Abi's side as she is finally able to confront her ghosts, remember who she used to be, and find a way to open her heart to the prospect of love once again over the course of her holiday, via the bumps in the road that are part of every good rom-com journey, of course. Walker touches with sensitivity on some deep subjects in the process too, especially when it comes to family, friendship, loss, and the dark side of the entertainment industry.

I consumed this little gem in one delectable bite, and thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt to gorgeous Tuscany. I cannot wait for my next holiday with Carrie Walker!

Escape to the Tuscan Vineyard is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Carrie Walker is a Brummie born rom-com lover with a lifelong passion for travel. She has lived in a ski resort, by a beach, in the country and the city, and travelled solo through Asia, South America and Europe. Her own love life was more com than rom until she met her husband a few years ago and settled down with him and her dog Ziggy in a small pub-filled village in Essex. Escape to the Swiss Chalet is her debut novel.

Toxic by Helga Flatland

 

Toxic by Helga Flatland.

Translated from the Norwegian by Matt Bagguley.

Published 23rd May 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Shamed schoolteacher, Mathilde, moves to a dairy farm in the Norwegian countryside for an ‘easier life’, but she’s soon up to her old tricks … upending and unsettling the lives of two reclusive farmers. Exquisitely written, razor-sharp and simmering with an unexpected tension, Toxic marks the return of one of Norway’s finest writers…

When Mathilde is forced to leave her teaching job in Oslo after her relationship with eighteen-year-old Jacob is exposed, she flees to the countryside for a more authentic life.

Her new home is a quiet cottage on the outskirts of a dairy farm run by Andres and Johs, whose hobbies include playing the fiddle and telling folktales – many of them about female rebellion and disobedience, and seeking justice, whatever it takes.

But beneath the apparently friendly and peaceful pastoral surface of life on the farm, something darker and more sinister starts to vibrate and, with Mathilde’s arrival, cracks start appearing … everywhere.

***********

In Telemark, Norway, Johs splits his time between running the ancestral dairy farm with his brother Andres, and carrying on the family traditions of playing the fiddle and telling folklore tales. Somehow, he is never quite up to the mark in any of these duties, constantly overshadowed by the presence of his formidable mother around the farm, and the knowledge that he will never be able to fill the shoes of the hard drinking, charismatic grandfather he was named for.

In Oslo, teacher Mathilde has been forced to leave her job after engaging in a relationship with one of her eighteen-year-old pupils. Overshadowed in her own way by stories of the parents she never knew, Mathilde convinces herself she needs to get away from city life and become a novelist like her mother. She decides to rent a small cottage on Johs and Andres' dairy farm, where she tries to immerse herself in rural life, but instead becomes the catalyst for upheaval in the taut relationships of this dysfunctional family.

Set against the fearful times of the Covid-19 pandemic, Helga Flatland's Toxic takes unsettling family dramas to a whole new level of intensity, in the way only a Norwegian novelist can do. The novel unfurls through the voices of two discordant characters, dairy farmer Johs and city dweller Mathilde, beginning in delicious slow-burn country by establishing the lay of the land in their separate lives, as an intriguing study of dysfunctional family circumstances and how these shape behaviour. Flatland then brings their storylines crashing together, building on her beautifully written ground-work to take a dark turn, twisting the novel into an exquisite tale of emotional dissonance and betrayal that it is impossible to look away from. 

The sections of story are entitled with the names of musical chords that play cleverly on the fiddle-playing legacy that runs through Johs' family, but this is not the only theme Flatland weaves to pitch-perfect delight throughout. Notably, intergenerational relationships are used incredibly effectively to heighten the notes that hit hardest, sending you reeling and provoking the odd sardonic chuckle in turn; and there is some lovely contrasting of town and country landscape and lifestyle in the way the story plays out (some nice dairy farming trivia too). 

However, the most striking theme is that every layer of this literary masterpiece is about rewritten narratives - whether it be in the fact that the characters are the products of family expectations that have been coloured to hide uncomfortable truths; the way perspectives on the intimate relationships shift to offload responsibility; or in the lies practically everyone in this book tells themselves to excuse their behaviour. And everything is tied together with perhaps the most well-played trick of all - Flatland's spellbinding use of Nordic folklore to underpin her contemporary plot, flooding the story with hidden meaning around female disobedience crushed beneath a patriarchal boot.

This is not a comfortable read, in the way that the best literary novels often are. The characters are generally unlikeable; their attitudes are frequently challenging; and they act in ways which are appalling as much as they are entertaining. Flatland very deliberately uses them to force you to confront your own opinions about moral responsibility, guilt, gendered behaviour, and the way strong women are viewed by society too, so be prepared to have your thoughts provoked. But I would not have changed a carefully chosen word, a poignant passage, or any shade of meaning in that cracking title, on the way to the superb ending. I tip my hat to translator Matt Bagguley for preserving every ounce of Norwegian essence in his translation.

Toxic is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats. You support indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Helga Flatland is already one of Norway’s most awarded and widely read authors. 

Born in Telemark, Norway, in 1984, she made her literary debut in 2010 with the novel Stay If You Can, Leave If You Must, for which she was awarded the Tarjei Vesaas’ First Book Prize. She has written four novels and a children’s book and has won several other literary awards. 

Her fifth novel, A Modern Family (her first English translation), was published to wide acclaim in Norway in August 2017, and was a number-one bestseller. The rights have subsequently been sold across Europe and the novel has sold more than 100,000 copies. 

End of Life was published in 2020 and is currently topping bestseller lists in Norway. 

Hera by Jennifer Saint

Hera by Jennifer Saint.

Published 23rd May 2024 by Widlfire.

From the cover of the book:

When Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronus, helps her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side.

As they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Often portrayed as the jealous wife or the wicked stepmother, this retelling captures the many sides of Hera, vengeful when she needs to be but also compassionate and most importantly, an all-powerful queen to the gods.

***********

In her most ambitious novel to date, Jennifer Saint tackles the story of Hera, Queen of the Gods. She begins with an unconventional introduction to the mightiest of all the goddesses of Greek myth, not as the jealous figure we are familiar with, but as the warrior who fought at the side of her brother Zeus to bring down their father, the Titan Cronus - and it is a powerful foreshadowing the Hera she wishes to portray in this story.

This Hera is quite rightly angry at the way Zeus subsequently subverts the era of peace and equality that came following the war against Cronus, scheming to place himself above his brothers and sisters - and to coerce her into marriage she does not want. This Hera is consumed by the bitterness she feels over the stripping away of her birth right, and  it provides an ideal opportunity to turn the trope of jealous wife on its head. As Saint journeys through the ages at the side of Hera, she offers us an alternative history of the well-trodden environs of an Olympus that venerates the male gods, and it is incredibly compelling. 

The interactions between Hera and her sisters, Hestia and Demeter; the new Olympians who come to reside on the mountain top; her own children; and the products of Zeus' amorous adventures are especially interesting - but is is the inner feelings, vengeful thoughts, and continued striving to bring nasty old Zeus to his knees that keeps you turning the pages. A little knowledge about Greek myths will be helpful here, as Saint does an excellent job of touching on so many, and there is is so much to enjoy in the way she gives them a fresh look in the process.

The most impressive thing in this novel is the way Saint weaves the story not just about divisions, but the things that Hera and the other female characters find common ground in, but this is not always easy to do. Saint does her utmost to bring out the more relatable side of Hera, and although this works in part it is a big ask to paint her as a sympathetic protagonist given her deeds. Hera is a mass of contradictions, and there is still a lot to forgive her for in the way she treats others, especially the defenceless women who fall prey to Zeus' prodigious desires. Feminist icon she is not.

What Saint does do in spectacular style however, is to widen the focus of her story to include the characters of other goddesses too, which does allow her to revel in feminist themes. There are some very interesting storylines about the way some of them cleverly manipulate Zeus into giving them at least some of the freedom they crave, and the lessons Hera learns from this - Hestia, Demeter, and Athena are especially well written, bringing out the qualities that set them apart from their scheming kin. I have always had a soft spot for Hestia, and adored her portrayal in these pages. She was by far the most engaging character for me.

This is a fascinating book, full of lovely detail about Greek myth and the hidden stories of the women normally consigned to supporting roles in the power games of their male counterparts, as to be expected from Jennifer Saint. As I was reading, I began to wonder quite how she could possibly bring all the threads together to create a satisfying ending. I am thrilled with the way she manages this, building hefty poignancy in the philosophical meandering of the final chapters.

If Greek mythology is your bag, then you will find much here to please - and like never before, this latest Saint cracker is packed to the megaron with themes to discuss.

Hera is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Wildfire for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. 

After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote ARIADNE which tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of Ariadne - the woman who made it happen. Ariadne was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2021 and was Waterstones Book of the month in January 2022. Her second novel, ELEKTRA, was a Number One Sunday Times bestseller and explores the curse upon the House of Atreus, giving voice to three women who are caught up in its shadows: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra whose lives are shattered by the Trojan War and who seek to find justice at any cost. Her third novel, Atalanta, tells the story of the only female Argonaut and is a Number One Sunday Times bestseller. 

Jennifer Saint is now a full-time author, living in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.

The Theatre Of Glass And Shadows by Anne Corlett

 

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett.

Published 23rd May 2024 by Black and White Publishing.

From the cover of the book:

Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . .

In an alternate London, the city's Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production - the Show - has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.

Juliet's mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It's only when her father passes away that Juliet - now nineteen - learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother's death and her father's years of silence - and claim her birthright.

But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .

***********

In an alternate London, the mysterious Theatre District on the south bank of the Thames has been captivating audiences for centuries with its never-ending Show. Demand for tickets to gain entry to the ever more elaborate event never waivers, despite the expense, and its Followers long to be party to what goes on behind the scenes. But the walled-in District keeps its secrets close - even from London's police force.

Ninteen-year-old Juliet has never known her mother. Brought up by her distant father, who refused to tell her about the woman who gave birth to her, she has always felt unwanted. When he dies, Juliet discovers by chance from her cold step-mother that she was born in the District, and she heads to London for a new start, hopeful she will finally find a place to belong. But while Juliet manages to gain entrance to the world the public never sees, things are not quite as she thought in the District. The Show must go on, and some are expected to sacrifice more than others to keep its dark secrets.

In The Theatre Of Glass And Shadows, Anne Corlett takes the concept of immersive theatre and weaves a spellbinding story that draws you deep into the underbelly of a mid-twentieth century London subtly, but distinctly, different to our own. Corlett's London is one deprived of the influence of Shakespeare, whose brilliance was stifled in the shadow of the extravagant Show in Lambeth. The south bank of the river is now dominated by the enclave of the Theatre District, that has grown to epic proportions underneath the expansive glass dome that looks across the Thames towards a war-scarred St. Paul's Cathedral. 

The story follows Juliet's search for the truth about her origins, and Corlett incorporates delicious themes of family, friendship, romance and belonging into her quest. And this is not the only mystery to be solved, as there are multiple threads of shocking secrets to be uncovered about the District, and the shady bargains that have been made to ensure its survival, all fed by the murky motivations of ambition, passion, and jealousy - including a beautifully wrought storyline about murdered young women that recalls the grisly history of Jack the Ripper.

The District oozes Gothic vibes, and is so vividly imagined that you can almost taste it. As Juliet moves within its multiple levels, negotiating winding passageways, secret rooms, and halting dead ends front of house and behind the scenes, Corlett uses symmetry and reflection to brilliant effect both within the setting, and in the layers of the story. Juliet is pulled in two directions, torn between a life within the District and one outside, and there are many illusions to be shattered before she can find her true path.

I loved this book from compelling start to gripping finish, absolutely enthralled by Corlett's writing and imagination. There is intriguing scope for a sequel, which I really hope she decides to write, because I am nowhere near ready to let go of this world and these characters yet. The Show must go on!

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats.

Thank you to Black and White Publishing for giving me a proof in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Anne is originally from the north-east, but somehow slid down the map and finished up in a small village near Bath, where she lives with her partner and three sons. She has an MA in English Language and Linguistics from Edinburgh University, and an MSt in Linguistics from Oxford University. During her postgraduate studies, she worked as an etymologist and proofreader for a dictionary, carrying out research at the Bodleian Library.

Armed with her linguistics-related degrees and work experience, Anne took the somewhat illogical next step and became a criminal lawyer. In 2011, after several years spent working in the London courts and police stations, Anne remembered that she’d actually planned to be a writer, and commenced work on her first novel. This was slightly unfortunate timing, given that she was right in the middle of relocating to Somerset with her family, who seemed to feel that a little less novel-writing and a little more packing might be warranted. They probably had a point.

Over the next couple of years Anne fitted writing work around her day job as a solicitor. Her writing has appeared in various newspapers, magazines and anthologies, and has won various awards.

In 2016, The Space Between the Stars was published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and Random House in the US. She wrote most of this novel while studying for a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University. Her second novel, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows, will be published in May 2024 by Bonnier.

Anne enjoys working with other writers, through editing, mentoring and teaching.

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

 

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 1st November 2018 by Harper Collins.

Original story published in 1936.

From the cover of the book:

Agatha Christie’s world-famous serial killer mystery, reissued in a beautiful new classic hardcover edition designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers.

‘Let us see, Mr Clever Poirot, just how clever you can be.’

Murder is a very simple crime. But at the hands of a maniac, a serial killer, it becomes a very complicated business.

With the whole country in a state of panic, the killer is growing more confident with each successive execution – Mrs Ascher in Andover, Betty Barnard in Bexhill, Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston… But laying a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just be his first mistake…

***********

Captain Hastings, visiting from South America, calls in on his old friend, Hercule Poirot. Poirot is looking for an interesting crime to occupy his attention, and he shows Hastings a letter from someone calling themselves A.B.C., which might possibly fit the bill. It tells him to look out for a forthcoming crime in Andover, and challenges him to put his famous little grey cells to the test to try to outwit the letter writer. Poirot fears that a murder is about to be committed, but he has no way to intercede.

When a woman called Alice Ascher is subsequently killed in her Andover tobacconist shop, on the date given in the letter, it appears Poirot's prediction was correct. There are no clues to go on, except the deliberate placement of an ABC railway guide at the scene, but Poirot is convinced this is only the beginning. 

Two more murders follow in close order, with accompanying letters and tell-tale copies of the railway guide - a young waitress, Betty Bernard, in Bexhill-on-Sea, and Sir Carmichael Clarke, in Churston. When a further letter arrives foretelling that the next murder will be in Doncaster, Poirot, Hastings, the police, and some curious partners in crime team up to try to catch the alphabet obsessed 'mad man' in the act...

Captain Hastings narrates this 1930s Agatha Christie mystery, as he does for many of the Poirot stories, but there is also an unusual component in the form of brief scenes from the perspective of A.B.C. to direct your eye towards a certain quarter. Of course, things are never that simple in a Christie mystery, and there are plenty of red herrings built in to keep you second guessing yourself about the whos, whats and whys behind the murdering spree.

Poirot's little grey cells are really put to the test in this story, and there are lots of little 'conferences' to be worked through on the way to the solution. Hastings helps with his charming way of looking at the world, and the friends and family of the victims also prove to be the key in solving the murderous shenanigans, when Poirot brings them together to act as a little crime busting team at his side.

There is some laugh-out-loud, comic inter-play between the characters, which I always love about Christie's books - especially at the beginning of the novel when Hastings reunites with Poirot and Japp. However, I think this is actually one of Christie's more unsettling storylines given the staggeringly callous acts of the murderer. It is not one of my favourites, as the pace is a bit stop-start, but it is packed with intriguing themes, particularly about the impact of crime on those left behind, which makes it an incredibly thought-provoking one.

This is my May choice for #ReadChristie2024 as a Christie book written in the 1930s, and I listened to the first class narration of Hugh Fraser in the audio book.

The ABC Murders is available to buy now in various formats.

About the author:

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in over 70 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 20 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

 

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr.

Published 9th May 2024 by Orion.

From the cover of the book:

Sometimes finding your place in the world is the greatest puzzle of all...

Clayton Stumper is an enigma.

He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt.

Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution.

When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future.

Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve - and it's a secret that will change everything...

***********

Twenty-five-year-old Clayton Stumper has had a very unusual upbringing. Abandoned on the steps of the once grand manor house that calls itself home to the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he has been raised by an assortment of the sharpest problem solvers in the land, under the guidance of eminent crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook. Given the peculiar circumstances of his life thus far, Clayton is not your average twenty-something: he dresses like an old man, has a penchant for a drop of sherry, and knows very little about the world outside of the Fellowship, but he does sometimes wonder about the mystery surrounding his origins - the mystery that Pippa promised she would eventually reveal to him. 

However, when Pippa dies without sharing what she knew, leaving Clayton with just the dwindling number of increasingly frail Fellowship members for company, he despairs of ever finding out where he came from. But all hope is not lost, for Pippa has left Clayton a trail of clues to follow to find the answers he seeks...

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a lovely story about devilishly clever puzzles, and the people who make them, but that is not all, for as Clayton follows the trail to the truth about where he comes from, Burr takes him on a journey of self-discovery too.

The story unfurls in two timelines: one detailing the origins of the Fellowship at the hands of Pippa, which introduces you to all the vivid characters who come together to make it such a success; and the other, following Clayton's emotional treasure hunt. Burr conjures fascinating scenes that show the history of the puzzles Clayton has to subsequently solve, and he tugs mercilessly on your heartstrings by echoing themes of belonging, family, friendship, and different facets of love in both timelines. 

It is such fun solving the different puzzles alongside Clayton - I especially loved all the life lessons he accrues on the way to completing the special crossword Pippa leaves him. Burr does an excellent job of leading you all round the houses (and a variety of other intriguing locations), and there are plenty of entertaining  red herrings to wade through on the way to the uplifting ending full of warmth and hope.

This is a gentle read, containing a well written character led story and lots of brain-teasing puzzles to solve. It is a charming combination, and an impressive debut!

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Orion for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Samuel Burr is a TV producer who has worked on popular factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. Samuel’s writing was selected for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He previously studied at Westminster Film School.

Love Game by Emma Rae

 

Love Game by Emma Rae.

Published 16th May 2024 by Hera.

From the cover of the book:

Can a player on the court be a keeper at home?

Elle's love language is food. But finding the right kind of work in her industry is difficult. After multiple different stints and temporary work, she lands her dream role: a personal chef to huge tennis star, Nicky Salco. It's just a bonus that he's handsome and athletic...but totally off limits.

The pressure is on, and not just in the kitchen. As Nicky trains for hours on the court for Wimbledon, Elle treads carefully around his brutally judgemental fiancée, while also trying to ignore her own boyfriend's cheating habits.

But the temperature rises when Nicky's training leads him to get hungry late at night and Elle is the one tasked with keeping his belly full. Despite being worlds apart, their late night rendezvous seem to lead to more than what they intended.

Should they risk the lives they have already built, for the lives they truly want?

A sizzling, forced-proximity sporting romance that fans of Hannah Grace and Ali Hazelwood will fall head over heels for.

***********

Chef, Elle is not having the best of times. Out of a job, she has been relying on patchy agency work and is stuck living with her cheating boyfriend, none of which is ideal. Finally, the dice roll in her favour and she is offered the role of live-in personal chef to handsome American tennis star, Nicky Salco, while he is in England for the Wimbledon Championship. The job comes with an unusual requirement: Elle will need to get up in the middle of the night to cook for the ever-hungry Nicky, but this is an opportunity for better things that she really cannot afford to pass up. 

After a bumpy start, Nicky and Elle fall into an easy night-time routine. He cannot seem get enough of Elle's food, or her company, and she cannot deny that the attraction is mutual, but Nicky is out of bounds, because he has a fiancée in tow - the glamorous, and manipulative Mackenzie, who is less than happy about having a female chef as part of his entourage. Elle really does not want to get in the middle of their relationship, but things are threatening to boil over in more ways than one...

Love Game by Emma Rae is a little gem of a rom-com, that delves into the worlds of food and the professional tennis circuit. Rae chooses her ingredients with care, bringing together down-on-her-luck chef Elle and tempestuous tennis star Nicky, and surrounding them with a host of well-drawn characters to provide the sweet and sour notes you need to make up a literary dish that is very tasty indeed - and which has just the right level of spice to keep things steamy in the kitchen!

Elle is such a great character that you cannot help taking her to your heart from page one, and Rae keeps you guessing about the eventual result of the love match with Nicky, who takes some time to reveal his vulnerable side. Oodles of romantic suspense arise from the well-played mishaps and misunderstandings that grow out of their forced proximity, and once the game of passion is afoot the pace of the story hots up all the way to the most delicious, full-circle climax that had me sobbing into my strawberries and cream.

I devoured this little beauty in one single sitting, lapping up the love story, the passion, and all the lovely detail about food and the professional tennis circuit... and the Jane Eyre references! It is so wonderfully cinematic (please someone make me happy with an adaptation) and touches the emotional soft spot to perfection. Welcome to the ideal appetiser to the upcoming Wimbledon fortnight, romance fans! 

Love Game by Emma Rae is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio book formats.

Thank you to Hera for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Emma Rae graduated from Plymouth University and joined the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in 2003, working in British Embassies across the globe. She writes both new adult romance and thriller novels, and is a graduate of the Faber Academy and Curtis Brown Creative. She now lives in Guildford with her husband and two children.

Geneva by Richard Armitage

 

Geneva by Richard Armitage.

Published 12th October 2023 by Faber and Faber.

Audio book narrated by Richard Armitage , Nicola Walker and Jane Perry

From the cover of the book:

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference - until her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever. More than that, it could save Sarah's life.

In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars - at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah's symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can't be sure who to trust - including herself.

***********

Dr Sarah Collier has retired to spend time with her husband and daughter, after developing signs of early onset Alzheimer's disease - the illness that is slowly claiming her father. She barely recognises herself as the Nobel Prize winning scientist that she used to be, and is desperately clinging on to the vestiges of normality. 

Sarah has no wish to be back in the limelight, but her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist, has persuaded her that she should attend a conference at the cutting-edge Schiller Institute in Geneva, where ground-breaking technology is due to be unveiled - technology that the Institute is keen to have endorsed by a scientist of her stature. Neurocell, a highly advanced brain implant will revolutionise treatments for people suffering neurological damage, and could offer the break through that Sarah needs to save her own life.

Against her better judgement, Sarah agrees to attend. She is uncomfortable under the intense media spotlight, and as her symptoms begin to worsen, she feels herself losing control. Then controversial conspiracy theory blogger Terri Landau gets her claws into her, exposing Sarah's secret to the world. Something about this situation feels dangerous, and Sarah no longer knows if she can trust those around her... or even herself.

I was lucky enough to read this cracking novel in early proof form last year, and I was totally blown away by the accomplished plotting of debut author, actor Richard Armitage. It really is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Having spotted that the Audible Originals audio book (which pre-dated the release in print form) is currently available for free for Audible Plus subscribers, I just had to experience the thrills and spills again, via the voice talents of Richard Armitage, Nicola Walker and Jane Perry... and I was blown away all over again!

The story unfurls in first person narrations from Sarah and Daniel, interspersed by blog articles from the tenacious Terri Landau, and sections of story that fill in the gaps about the other central characters in this intimate cast - notably the Schiller Institute's founder Mauritz Schiller, his manipulative assistant Helen Alder, and the Institute's head of security Pavel Osimov.

In pretty short order, Helen starts to fall apart, Daniel hits you with some astounding confessions, Terri makes a nuisance of herself, and Helen and Osimov are at each other's throats with murky motivations of their own that Mauritz may or may not be part of. The twists and turns are powerfully visceral, and you have no idea who to trust as Helen fights for her very survival. Armitage builds atmosphere and suspense like an accomplished thriller writer, which is mightily impressive for his first literary outing, and the reveals that smack you full in the face are beautifully contrived, and genuinely jaw-dropping.

I loved this book first time around, and the audio version lifts the whole shebang to another level. Richard Armitage, Nicola Walker and Jane Perry are totally convincing as the characters they portray, and I promise you will feel every ounce of the power in their narrations - this is a book that provokes strong emotions however you read it, but the audio book enhances the experience superbly. I found myself just sitting and letting the voices wash over me as the tension rises, and was floored all over again by the pitch perfect plot twists.

If you have yet to read this classy thriller, then you really should - and if audio is your bag, then I guarantee this will be a listen you never forget. Outstanding!

Geneva is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Faber and Faber for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Richard Armitage is a multi-award winning stage and screen actor. Armitage is best known for his role of Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of ‘The Hobbit’. On Film Armitage starred in ‘Into the Storm’ ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ ‘Captain America, the First Avenger’ ‘Oceans 8’. Independent features include ‘The Lodge’ ‘My Zoe’ ‘Brain on Fire’ and ‘Pilgrimage’. On TV, Guy of Gisborne in ‘Robin Hood’, Daniel Miller in Epix ‘Berlin Station’, ‘John Porter’ in Sky’s Strike Back, Francis Dolerhyde in NBC’s Hannibal, Lucas North in ‘Spooks’ and John Thornton in ‘North and South’ both for the BBC. He also voices Trevor Belmont in the Netflix series ‘Castlevania’, Devereaux in their upcoming animated ‘Tomb Raider’ and Logan in Marvel’s ‘Wolverine’ podcast.

Recent TV adaptations for Netflix include Ray Levine in ‘Stay Close' and Adam Price in ‘The Stranger’ both written by Harlan Coben. He recently played William Farrow in "Obsession" also for Netflix based on the novel 'Damage' by Josephine Hart.

The 'Jackman and Evans' crime series by Joy Ellis and 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' by CJ Tudor both available on Audible, are currently in development for TV adaptation from his production company White Boar Films alongside The Imaginarium and Sprout Productions/ Night Train.

In 2022 he penned his debut crime thriller 'Geneva'. It was an instant #1 bestseller for Audible and was published by Faber&Faber (UK) and Pegasus (US).

The Honeymoon Affair by Sheila O'Flanagan

 

The Honeymoon Affair by Sheila O'Flanagan.

Published 9th May 2024 by Headline.

From the cover of the book:

Izzy is in the Caribbean on the honeymoon-that-isn't after her fiancé broke her heart. She's not looking for someone new. But when she meets Charles Miller, a successful writer holidaying alone, the electricity is undeniable. And what does she have to lose?

In Ireland, Charles's ex-wife and agent Ariel flits from party to party, glamorous and poised. She's in constant contact with Charles. They're very close. Ariel wonders if they should get back together. She's an independent woman, but she liked being part of a power couple. And she's sure she only has to say, and they'll pick up where they left off.

No matter how in control of life you think you are, it can shock and surprise you. As Izzy, Ariel and Charles are about to find out . . .

Sheila O'Flanagan's new novel tells a compelling and thought-provoking story about two strong women, one complicated man, and the secrets and dreams that draw them together - with explosive consequences . . .

***********

When Izzy's fiancé drops the bombshell that he no longer wants to get married to her, she takes the decision to jet off on what was supposed to be her honeymoon with her cousin Celeste, rather than with the man she thought she would be spending her life with. Depressed and heartsore, the last thing she expects is to find herself falling for another man while she is there, but the chemistry she feels with handsome, older, and very famous author, Charles Miller, who is supposed to be in the Caribbean working through his writer's block, is undeniable. It is a meeting that sparks not only a new direction for Miller, but the possibility of something more than a holiday fling.

Back in Dublin, Charles' ex-wife Ariel is still very much part of his life, as the agent who set him on the path to winning a Booker Prize. Although their marriage has gone awry, their working partnership has always been good, and he still relies on her to support him through his trials and tribulations - both personal and professional. Ariel misses being part of a literary power couple, and wonders whether their marriage still stands a chance.

When Charles returns with a potential best-seller in the making, and his relationship with Izzy continues to blossom, it is only a matter of time before these two women bump heads over who really belongs with the complicated author... and it does not help that Izzy's ex-fiancé is not yet off the scene.

The story unfurls in beautifully written first person narratives from Izzy and Ariel, and O'Flanagan does her classic thing of getting right into the emotional nitty gritty from the outset, comparing and contrasting the ties of old relationships and the promise of the new. She also uses her two locations, of a sunny holiday destination, where cares can be cast aside while you are in the moment, and the cold-hard reality of being back home having to deal with all the real-life situations you briefly left behind, to perfection.

At first glance, Izzy and Ariel seem to have very little in common - one a young woman completely out of her depth in literary circles (although she certainly knows what she likes about books), but beginning to grow into herself, and the other older, more assured and with a reputation as a successful business woman. But as the story develops, you realise that they are alike in many ways. Inevitably, they find themselves part of a complex triangle with Charles at the centre, and he is a very unconventional romantic lead, with a sizeable ego - and a very spiky mother! I found Charles a difficult character to warm to, but Izzy and Ariel are both marvellous, and I think they could easily have been friends under different circumstances.

The course of true love certainly does not run smooth in this story, and O'Flanagan plays mercilessly with your emotions, as well as those of her characters. Yes, there is romantic suspense in spades, but the relationships here are very real too, and the way she delves into jealousy, regret, the weight of shared memories, shifting boundaries, and different facets of love is spellbindingly good. As the story flips back and forth between Izzy and Ariel I really could not see where it would finally land, which I really enjoyed.

I loved how this is all about the world of publishing, and not just from the point of view of the authors. Ariel's part of the story takes you into the back room business of literary agents and the whole process of publishing a book, which was fascinating to read about. The literary quotes at the head of each chapter were absolute gold, and I adored all the book chat by the different characters too.

As with all of O'Flanagan's books, this is a heart-felt page-turner that you will be unable to put down once you have started reading it. I am already craving more of her fabulous female characters.

The Honeymoon Affair is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Headline for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Sheila O'Flanagan is the author of over 30 bestselling books, including What Eden Did Next, Three Weddings and a Proposal, The Women Who Ran Away, Her Husband's Mistake, The Hideaway and The Missing Wife. She lives in Dublin with her husband.

Two For Sorrow (Josephine Tey Book Three) by Nicola Upson

 

Two for Sorrow (Josephine Tey Book Three) by Nicola Upson.

Published 1st February 2011 by Faber and Faber.

From the cover of the book: 

London, 1903. Two women are hanged in Holloway Prison for killing babies. More than thirty years later, Josephine Tey sets out to write a novel about Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious Finchley baby farmers. 

Meanwhile, her friend, Inspector Archie Penrose is investigating the sadistic murder of a young seamstress, found dead in the Motley sisters' studio, amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. 

The girl's death seems to be the result of a long-standing domestic feud, but Archie is unconvinced; and when a second young woman is involved in an horrific accident soon afterwards, the search begins for a vicious killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past where it belongs.

***********

December, 1935. Josephine Tey is in London staying at the Cowdray Club, getting to grips with a new novel ahead of a charity gala being arranged for the benefit of both the Club and the adjoining nursing college. Hoping to stay under the radar for a few days, she has been avoiding meeting up with old friends DI Archie Penrose and his theatre designer cousins, the Motley sisters (who are deep in preparations for the gala), in order to get some serious writing and research under her belt.

Josephine's new book is to be about the infamous Finchley baby farmers, Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, who were hanged in 1903, and she is ideally placed to undertake some research about them through one of her own former teachers, who is managing the Cowdray Club - and was a prison warder at Holloway Women's Prison when the women were executed.

Josephine's peaceful writing time is thrown into turmoil when a young seamstress is murdered at the Motley sisters' studio, forcing them to relocate operations to the Club. Archie is now entangled in a gruesome investigation, and he is unconvinced by the stories of domestic strife that appear to be the root of the murder. When another young woman, who was friends with the murdered seamstress meets with a terrible accident, it seems someone is trying to keep them quiet... and Archie begins to suspect that sins of the past are behind the whole twisted affair.

Two for Sorrow is the third book in the wonderful Josephine Tey series by by Nicola Upson, based around the real case of Amelia Sach and Annie Walters. It is one of my favourites in terms of plotting, the wealth of social history it contains, and the impact it has on how Josephine views herself.

First and foremost, Upson pulls an absolute blinder in conjuring a devilishly clever murder mystery that really keeps you guessing, and which is filled with lovely deceptions and the most Agatha Christie like red herrings of the series so far - which is highly entertaining given some of the snarky comments Josephine makes about her literary colleague in this story. 

Upson builds delicious layers around sins of the past, and long shadows from the execution of Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, which allow her to get into the nitty gritty of all manner of subjects around baby farming, and crime and punishment in relation to women - notably prison reform, and execution - which anchor this novel firmly in time and place, and which are extremely thought provoking to boot. Much of this is pretty eye opening, particularly when it comes to the societal factors that fed the dark actions of the baby farmers, the treatment of women prisoners, and the celebrity of executioners as late as the turn of the twentieth century!

Josephine and Archie spend less time together in this novel with everything happening around them, although there are still lovely scenes between them that are ripe with the weight of things unsaid, and they end up pursuing crucial leads together too. Interestingly, they are forced to reassess their friendship somewhat, with the return of a character from the past, which opens up a really powerful storyline for Josephine - giving rise to intensely emotional moments, and provoking fascinating and poignant conversations about the relationship choices of women post the Great War. My favourite familiar side-kicks are also here in the crime-fiction-obsessed DS Bill Fallowfield, and the vivacious Motley sisters, along with a smattering of famous faces and some fabulous characters that Upson uses to great advantage by swapping between the present and past in sections of text from Josephine's new book about Amelia Sach and Annie Walters. 

I thought I could not love this series more, but revisiting the books through the voice talents of Sandra Duncan, who brought me to tears in this book, is proving to be a joyous experience. I had forgotten how powerful this particular instalment was! Superb!

Onwards to my reread of book four, Fear in the Sunlight. I cannot wait! 

Two for Sorrow is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Nicola Upson is the author the Josephine Tey mysteries, including An Expert in Murder, and two works of nonfiction. She has worked in theatre and as a freelance journalist. A recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England, she splits her time between Cambridge and Cornwall.